Reel Culture: Denton Hosts First Ever Black Film Festival

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DENTON, TX -- From the documentary “Cowboys of Color,” to an animated coming of age story --“Sule and the Case of the Tine Sparks,” the Denton Black Film Festival showcased cinema created by and about African Americans.

"There is a great deal of deal of talented black filmmakers that are basically unknown in many instances,” Meesha George, chairperson of the Denton Black Film Festival siad. “Once we started sifting through that, we had to bring that to Denton.”

The inaugural festival drew international submissions while spotlighting numerous Texas filmmakers and subjects.

“I always wanted to be a cowboy when I was small but I thought that was just something,” Coy Poitier, director of “Cowboys of Color," said.

The entire festival took place in a theater that was once segregated, and proceeds from the festival go to the Denton African American Scholarship foundation.

“Just having an opportunity to be around cinema causes people to think, ‘what about me, why couldn’t I do that,” one filmmaker added.

The two day event helped shine a light on the creative arts culture of Denton.

“It really separates Denton and puts it at the top of the pack of thoughtful communities that really care about not celebrating history but also looking forward,” attendee Chad Wick said.